US-Egypt Cooperative Research: Characterization of Conditions Associated with Local and Regional Air Pollution Episodes in Egypt

0108305HannaDescription：该奖项是为了支持北卡罗来纳州罗利市Mcnc环境研究经理Adel Hanna博士和埃及开罗大学天文和气象系Mohamed El-Shahawy博士之间的一个合作项目。这项研究的目标是清楚地了解导致埃及空气污染事件的多重和复杂的过程。他们将追求两个目标：(1)通过分析十年的数据(1990-1999年)，评估秋季(9月、10月、11月)的气象条件，特别是1999年10月-11月的空气污染事件；(2)确定生物质燃烧在加剧开罗和埃及邻近城市空气污染事件中的作用。在1999年10月的最后一个星期，并持续了两到三个星期，开罗和尼罗河三角洲以北的城市暴露在一些特别高水平的空气污染物中。这一事件提请人们注意尼罗河三角洲和大开罗地区的生物质燃烧和其他人为排放源问题。这项研究将提高我们预测空气污染事件的能力，从而使有各种健康问题的人在高污染时期避免某些活动。它还将提高我们对排放、位置、地形和气象条件在加剧空气污染条件中所起作用的理解。范围：该项目支持两名研究人员之间的合作，他们具有良好的培训、经验和对将要研究的情况的了解，以开展这项研究。根据气象数据和排放情景，PIs计划使用一个全面的空气质量模型，该模型已应用于北美的许多地理位置。在埃及的应用将提供对使用空气质量模型的任何限制的洞察。这一点尤其重要，因为全球空气质量模型应该与区域和地方模型一致。拟议的活动还应改进空气质量模型，纳入与最初编制空气质量模型所针对的环境不同的新类型的环境，例如生物质燃烧，这可能是造成空气污染的主要因素。这项活动大力支持调整和转让技术，以保护埃及公民的空气质量和健康，并将提供一个推广到其他地点的进程。一名美国研究生将参与这个项目，并将获得国际科学合作的经验。该建议符合INT的目标，支持在共同感兴趣的领域进行合作研究，并在这些领域有潜在的社会效益。该项目得到了美国-埃及联合基金计划的支持，该计划为两国的科学家和工程师提供资助，以开展这些合作活动。

0108305HannaDescription: This award is to support a collaborative project between Dr. Adel Hanna, Manager, Environmental Research at MCNC, Raleigh, North Carolina and Dr. Mohamed El-Shahawy, Astronomy and Meteorology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. The goal of this research is to provide a clear understanding of the multiple and complex processes that contribute to air pollution episodes in Egypt. They will pursue two objectives: (1) evaluate meteorological conditions during the fall season (September, October, November) by analyzing ten years' worth of data (1990-1999), with special emphasis on the air pollution episode of October-November 1999; and (2) characterize the role of biomass burning in aggravating air pollution episodes over Cairo and adjacent cities in Egypt. During the last week of October 1999 and continuing for a period of two to three weeks, Cairo, and cities to the north along the Nile Delta were exposed to especially high levels of a number of air pollutants. The incident has drawn attention to the problem of biomass burning and other anthropogenic emission sources in the Nile Delta and greater Cairo area. This study will improve our ability to predict air pollution episodes, thus allowing people with various health problems to avoid certain activities during high-pollution periods. It will also improve our understanding of the roles played by emissions, location, terrain, and meteorological conditions in aggravating air pollution conditions.Scope: The project supports collaboration between two investigators, with excellent qualifications both by training, experience and knowledge of the situation they will be studying, to carry out this research. With the meteorological data and the emissions scenario, the PIs plan to use a comprehensive air quality model that has been applied to numerous geographic locations in North America. The application in Egypt will provide insight into any limitations in the use of the air quality model. This is particularly important, as global air quality models should be in agreement with regional and local models. The proposed activity should also lead to improvements in the air quality model by including new types of environments different from those for which the air quality model was initially developed, such as biomass burning, which is likely to be a leading contributor to the air pollution. This activity strongly supports the adaptation and transfer of technology in protecting the air quality and health of the citizens of Egypt, and will provide a process for extension to other locations as well. A US graduate student will participate in this project and will gain experience in international scientific collaboration. The proposal meets INT objectives in supporting collaborative research in areas of mutual interest, and where there are potential societal benefits. This project is being supported under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program, which provides grants to scientists and engineers in both countries to carry out these cooperative activities.